The advantage of Reproductive Health Bill in the Philippines is that hopes to provide midwives for skilled attendance to childbirth and emergency obstetric care, even in geographically isolated and depressed areas. Thus, the one of the causes of maternal mortality, that arising from unattended births, will be addressed.

The disadvantage of the Reproductive Health Bill in the Philippines is the undue focus being given to reproductive health and population and development, when many more urgent and important health problems need to be addressed in the country, those that cause a significant number of deaths across the country such as cardiovascular diseases and infections. Financial resources allotted by foreign donors to assist the Philippine government programs could actually be better spent towards pursuing health programs targeting communicable diseases than purchasing artificial contraceptives.

The Reproductive Health Bill is controversial, as it is being opposed by concerned citizens, especially the pro-life, pro-family and pro-God groups, regardless of creed or religion. The Roman Catholic Church expresses its opposition against the bill on many counts, most especially the procurement and distribution of family planning supplies for the whole country, when the available evidence from peer reviewed medical journals supports the hypothesis that when ovulation and fertilization occur in women taking oral contraceptives (OCs) or using intrauterine devices (IUD), post-fertilization effects are operative on occasion to prevent clinically recognized pregnancy. Hormonal contraceptives and/or IUDs directly affect the endometrium. These effects have been presumed to render the endometrium relatively inhospitable to implantation or to the maintenance of the preembryo or embryo prior to clinically recognized pregnancy. These make pills and IUDS abortifacient.

Pro-life groups, and many professionals in the medical and nursing fields, believe that physicians and policy makers should understand and respect the beliefs of patients who consider human life to be present and valuable from the moment of fertilization. Patients should be made fully aware of this information so that they can consent to or refuse the use of artificial contraceptives.

However, the position of the Catholic Church and the pro-life groups does not mean that they espouse the attitude of "natalism" at all costs, as if the "number" of children, in itself, were the unmistakable sign of authentic christian matrimonial life.

The sexual act, properly exercised within marriage only, is ordained primarily to the propagation of life. If there are reasonable motives for spacing births, such as serious medical conditions in the mother, or extreme poverty, then the Catholic Church teaches that married couples may take advantage of the natural cycles of the reproductive system and use their marriage precisely those times that are infertile (natural family planning).

Other aspects of the bill being contested by concerned citizens include the classification of family planning supplies as essential medicines when their safety/toxicity profile and legal permissibility are questionable.

Very pertinent to the debate about reproduction rights is the right to life. The Philippine Constitution says that the State "shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. If artificial contraceptives are medically proven to induce abortion as one of their mechanisms of action, then procurement and distribution of such family planning supplies are unconstitutional and illegal.

THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH bill in the House of Representatives is being presented as a health bill and an antipoverty bill at the same time. It is neither. It is not what its authors say it is; it is everything they say it is not. It is an ideological attack on human life, the family, and our social and cultural values.

The bill rests on a flawed premise; it is unnecessary, unconstitutional, oppressive of religious belief and destructive of public morals and family values. Its enactment into law will only deepen the already frightening ignorance about the real issues. It should be rejected."

If there is a strong argument on the passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, it is the ever-growing population of the Philippines. According to the latest statistics on the country’s demographical data, there are now 96 million Filipinos, a considerable increase in the last 10 years or so, or a growth rate of at least four to six percent every year. Translated to more significant data, five to six babies are born in the country every minute, a staggering information considering that the Philippines is, until today, still referred to by its neighboring countries as a developing economy.

Thus, the latest proposed legislation in both the Senate and the House of Representatives has left the Filipino people extremely polarized. A lot of considerations have emerged in several discussions essentially because the staunchest opposition to the passage of the RH Bill comes from the Catholic Church. This is understandable because the Philippines remains to be the only Christian nation in the Far East and with the colonization of Spain for almost four centuries, Catholicism is widespread and prevalent.

Some sectors contend that the RH Bill boils down to the freedom of choice among couples and those who are sexually active. Others reason out that procreation is God’s legacy to His people. On the other hand, women – who bear the brunt of childbirth and its perils – say that they have the right to choose what is best for them, meaning, if their bodies could not withstand the rigors of childbirth, then they have all the right to take care of their own bodies.

Examining closely the advantages and disadvantages of the RH Bill, the former far outweighs the latter, that is, there are more benefits that the majority of Filipinos can get compared to not having such a bill passed for legislation in the country.

What is needed in the RH Bill is widespread information and dissemination of the various family planning methods and contraceptives that are available for couples. While the rich, educated couples understand the choices that they have, the poor folk – who comprise the majority – hardly have any knowledge on their options because they lack education. But, the lack of education is going to be another story or, on the contrary, the lack of education may be related to the passage of the RH Bill.

The poor comprise the majority of Filipinos. Because they are poor, they necessarily lack education or have no education at all. Who, then, will teach and guide these people about their choices, especially in the number of children that they can have or are able to support? Again, because of a dearth of knowledge, these people simply just leave it to fate if it happens that the wife gets pregnant almost every year.

The issue is not abortion at all. It is a totally different aspect of the entire discussion. The issue is giving the people a choice of whether they will adapt the family planning methods that have been suggested for them. It is for them to take it or leave it. If the people so desire that they would choose from among the artificial family planning methods available, then it is their choice. The bottomline is that these information should be made available for everyone and explained to them, most especially those who have no capacity to learn and understand. These people are the ones most vulnerable.

It is about time that family planning be included as part of the curriculum in schools and universities. The inclusion of sex education has been practiced in the past, but was phased out because of some opposition. Let this be revived today because of the need of the youth to be informed about their rights as a human being. Parents should also help the schools in making their children understand the pitfalls of early marriage or teen pregnancy. If the people are properly informed, then they would be able to make intelligent choices for their own betterment. In the process, they would be empowered.

It is interesting to note the latest statistics coming from the Social Weather Station under the supervision of Mr. Mahar Mangahas, which revealed that in the June 2011 survey, only 30 percent agreed and 51 percent disagreed that the use of condoms constitutes abortion. Furthermore, only 29 percent agreed and 51 percent disagreed that the use of IUDs constitutes abortion. Also, only 29 percent agreed and 52 disagreed that the use of birth control pills constitutes abortion. The results of the survey likewise revealed that the balances from 100 percent, roughly 2 out of every 10 adult Filipinos, were unable to take a stand.

Let us take a more discerning look at the RH Bill. There may be more than meets the eye with the passage of this controversial legislation.

Okay so I'm done with the definition and the history of the RH Bill, I've also discussed where it stands now with the current Aquino administration but I feel that I need to elaborate the implications that the bill comes with. So far there are 14 guiding principles that serve as the framework of the RH Bill, if I put all of that in here I will be wasting both your time and mine since I know you won't be reading it. So instead of enumerating each of the bill's principles, I decided to weigh in its pros and cons so in that way, it is interesting and stimulating at the same time!

I have to be honest, I had a pretty hard time being objective with this one since as you may have guessed by now, I am definitely pro-RH Bill but nevertheless here is what I have so far:

PROS

1. It gives a person freedom to choose whatever he wants

2. It is 100% pro-chance

3. It will greatly contribute to the prevention of HIV and Aids

4. It will help control the country's booming population

5. It will increase awareness regarding responsible parenthood

6. It will secure and promote both women's and children's rights

7. It will provide health care services for the poor and the marginalized

8. It will provide adolescents enough information about all the dangers of engaging in pre-marital sex

9. …and hopefully this will decrease the number of unwanted pregnancies that leads to abortion

CONS

1. It grants easier access to contraceptives even for adolescents

2. It will definitely increase the percentage of couples engaging in pre-marital sex

So this is basically it. This is all that I can think of. I told you I would have a hard time enumerating the different disadvantages of the RH Bill because I can only think of few (By few, I literally mean two). This does not make me a bad Catholic or anti-life but this makes me realistic. Hello people! You need to open your eyes and realize that we need to do something to control the rapid increase of our population. I know that it does go against the will of our Father but think about it, the entire country is suffering because of other people’s lack of knowledge about these certain things.

You may think I am being mean or something but I get irritated whenever I see couples crying on national television, complaining that they do not have enough money to support their ten kids. Then after which the wife will say, “sana tulungan po kami ng panginoong Diyos.” Well then, they should have thought about that before deciding to have so many children. God is there to guide us all the way but it is still up to us to make our own decisions in life. These people (the poor and the marginalized) need the RH Bill to further broaden their knowledge regarding responsible parenthood and sex in general. People would often joke about these kinds of situations and say “wala kasi silang magawa kaya nagaanak nalang sila.” That is not a valid excuse! We do our part in the society now it is time for them to do the same thing.

Yes, my post contains the exact 2008 RH proposal of Rep. Lagman. However, there are other versions of the RH bill in Congress (both lower and upper houses). If I’m not mistaken, Lagman filed another version of his original bill. But here’s the thing: the whole Congress are going to debate on the issues concerning the bill, and some of these issues include reproductive health, population, the use of contraception, family planning, regulation of businesses and the medical profession, among others, and they would certainly make a compromise, as they always did whenever they tackled pieces of legislation in the past.

But here are the FACTORS that our lawmakers are going to look at during the debate and deliberation process:

• The current condition of the country’s economy. Can the government provide all the RH services mentioned in the bill WITHOUT TAXING the people?

• The bill’s penal and punitive provisions.

• Are they going to shift the burden to employers, health care providers and others?

• The country’s budget deficit, tax revenue, or the financial capacity of the government to pursue the intents of the bill.

Whatever that result of that compromise would be, here are the very POSSIBLE effects/impacts of the bill on your rights and freedom:

• Big government, which means the government will have to assume a bigger role to rule our lives.

• More government regulations of the business community, the medical profession, and the education sector.

• There would be higher prices of commodities and services, including medical services. Why is this the case? It’s because employers and even hospitals would be compelled to raise their prices in order to offset the RH expenses they pay for their workers. If they don’t do this, they’d go BROKE!

• There would be more regulations and controls to come. The government could even issue PRICE CONTROLS in order to legally prevent companies from raising their prices.

• The system would corrupt the entire medical profession. Since RH services would be partly or even fully subsidized by the government and/or paid for by employers, hospitals might look at opportunities to get more patients or RH beneficiaries rather than focusing on quality health care. How much should a hospital charge for every RH care visit to be covered by Philhealth or a private company? How would the government or state regulators know whether a particular clinic or hospital mis-declare the number of its patients, its price, etc?

• Private companies and firms would be compelled to lay off workers or not to hire women or new workers in order to avoid more RH care expenses. This is very much possible since the bill includes punitive or penal provisions against employers who refuse or fail to comply with their “responsibilities.”

• There would be less innovation in the medical industry since one of the effects of the bill is that it justifies state or government’s fixing of the prices of medical services. If the government through PhilHealth pays for the RH case expenses of poor people and if employers pay for the expenses of their workers, then that gives the government the “right” to regulate or control the prices of RH services.

• The government would be compelled to levy additional tax rates or new taxes or borrow money from foreign sources in order to fully deliver the promises of the bill.

• The bill, if ever enacted, would have a negative impact on our individual rights and freedom, as it allows the government to have more power to heavily regulate the business sector, the medical profession, the education sector, and to rule our lives.

• Now lets go to the Negative impact of this Bill!

• 1. If the Bill will be approved then we are permitting the people of the program to tell our young kids about condoms, pills and ways to prevent pregnancy.

• 2. If the Bill will be approved then we are opening the minds of our children that sex is something to try. Even they are not that ready for it. And because they are thought how to use condoms, then curiousity would force them to sex.

• 3. Because their minds are now tainted with sex education, the respect of having sex to the right girl or the right guy for the right time would be abolished. Probably raped cases would increase.

• 4. Sex should be discussed by home by the parents not through government programs, approving this bill affects the right of the parents in teaching their young ones about morality.

• 5. If the Bill will be approved, HIV cases would increase! There is no such thing in this world as Safe condoms ( they might advertise it as safe, then why they dont have COMMERCIALS of using their condoms with an AIDS VICTIM). In Thailand, when they started to have a bill regarding sex education and birth control, their HIV cases increasing and so with other countries. Why? Sex is Holy and be respected, when you educate people about it and with condoms.....They will try it and want it so badly, believing condoms would protect them.

• 6. If the Bill will be approved, you cannot expect that your daughter will be still a virgin at the age of 15. The bill sounds good, but they're educated about sex and believing that sex is no holy and be respected anymore, but consider it as a wonderful part of the body.

• 7. If the Bill will be approved, Prostitution will increase!

• 8. If the Bill will be approved, it will be rear to find a virgin and concervative girl to become your wife. Like in America and in Europe that there is no such girl who is 18 and still a virgin.

• 9. Filipinos are concervative in nature, If our country will become less concervative because of the Bill, thus it affects our culture and our way of showing respect to the women.

• 10. Filipinos by nature is a solid christian and a believer to Gods way of giving new life, we all want the natural way, God's way. But with this bill it probably could change our faith.

• Filipinos are born intellectuals and I believed not dumb, Filipinos loves the culture of the Filipinos. We may say that many of the Filipinos wants to go abroad to earn dollars and live in the U.S, but they are not following the culture of the Americans or the Europeans. We love our culture our way of valuing Life, Sex ,Family, Religion, etc. The Bill is like making the Philippines like the western countries a country with liberated people, a country that devorce and abortion is legal. Filipinos never dreamt to have a culture like that, the bill is the stepping stone of bringing a western culture in the Philippines.

• The bill seeks to impose a hedonistic sex-oriented lifestyle that aims to reduce the conjugal act to a mere exchange of physical sensations between two individuals and marriage to a purely contraceptive partnership.

• Not only is it hedonistic, it is above all eugenicist. It seeks to eliminate the poor and the “socially unfit.” While it neither mandates a two-child family nor legalizes abortion, it prepares the ground for both.

• That paragraph explains something scary for the future Filipinos. The church people are making ways to stop this Bill, Filipinos should not be naived because this Bill is a serious treat to your culture, family and Faith to God!

• The devil used many good programs to weaken the faith of God's loyal servants!

• Joel Caluag, Bulacan: If the RH Bill becomes a law, the masses will be educated more about family planning, while having access to materials on reproductive health. The bill should be signed into law.

• Ruel Bautista, Laguna: We already have many laws in place intended to put us in order, but these laws have failed to do so. Would the RH Bill, if approved, prove to be any different?

• Divisive

• Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: The RH Bill issue will divide the Filipino people because of religious upbringing and indoctrination. There will be misinterpretations of the provisions of the bill, in spite of its vision of promoting responsible parenthood. A vote of ‘no’ will outdo the ‘yes’ because the majority of our population is made up of Catholics.

• Felix Ramento, USA: Should the RH Bill be passed into a law, I expect the opposition to continue, and messages of resistance will reverberate in Catholic church services. It will be an opportunity for bishops and priests to give some degree of fervency in their sermons and messages among the faithful.

• Mars Mejilla, Metro Manila: Opposition will still persist, given the power the church has over the vast majority of the masses. Enforcement of the law would be rough sailing in the first few years. It will need consistent and coordinated political will from all branches of government for it to succeed.

• Church must stay out of it

• Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: I will emphasize that there’s such a thing as separation of church and state, and that the bishops should moderate their desire for political power.

• Victoria Mendoza, Quezon City: The RH Bill should have been passed in the last century. We are the only country in the entire world still debating this. And to the good Catholic bishops, I am not a Catholic. I beg of you, please do not impose what you believe is right to the general population, which comprises different religious denominations. On the other hand, please vigorously promote natural family planning among the Catholic poor. You will go much further that way, instead of using negative force by opposing the inevitable.

• Positive change

• Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: We can only speculate, but right now, I truly remain hopeful that it will bring about positive change in our society.

• Deo Durante, Camarines Sur: I am pro-life, but we cannot do anything about it if it becomes a law. The RH Bill will hopefully augment health services provided to the community people and other related family care assistance.

• Louie Vallo, Pangasinan: As I have always believed, I see economic progress and an improvement in the lives of most of the populace. Children would be well taken care of and juvenile delinquency would be reduced, and I see a happy, contented and disciplined citizenry with the passage and implementation of the RH Bill.

• Rudy Tagimacruz, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon: Should the RH bill become a law, it would guide couples to practice parenthood responsibly and legally.

• It will erode our morality

• Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: We will go the way of the Western world inheriting the earth but losing our soul.

• Nescel Panes, Iloilo City: I believe in the sanctity of human life. If the RH Bill becomes a law, it will stir a controversy among devout Catholics concerning their stand on the preservation of life. Although it may enhance health care services, the morality of people will deteriorate. I am a law-abiding citizen. However, I will support laws that will promote the welfare of the people without putting lives in danger.

• Eric Gopilan, Parañaque City: I see an emaciated population, which means fewer laborers in industries and business. I see immorality will be a trend, as well as broken families and prostitution.

• Rey Onate, Palayan City: The RH Bill, should it become a law, will become a great “impacto” that will destroy our morals.

• Antonio Bello, Manila: I see a big negative impact for this bill should it become a law. Even if the number of children per family is reduced, poverty will still be here despite the promise of poverty alleviation due to it, if the real cause is not addressed. The use of artificial contraceptives will promote adulterous acts by both sexes. Those who stick to their morals/values and religious teachings will continue to ‘violate’ this law and it will cause some crisis in our penology. This law will promote promiscuity among our young children. This country will officially become an abortion country because the pills, especially the uterine devices, are abortifacient. This law will be the jumping board for immorality in this country.

• It’s badly needed

• Elpidio Que, Vigan: Just like corruption, population explosion is a major cause of poverty. The RH Bill should be enacted into law. Let the bishops and their pawns keep taking issue with it.

• More disadvantages than advantages

• Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: It will encourage illicit sexual relationship or promiscuity or safe sex, which will mean teenagers or persons not married to his/her partner can engage in sexual relationships, confident that there will be no fertilization. Contraceptives are not 100 per cent effective, so there may also be unwanted pregnancies and an increase in the incidence of STD. Innocent children will be exposed unnecessarily to sex as a school subject prematurely. As well, the acquisition of artificial wherewithals could be another venue for corruption.

• Ishmael Calata, Parañaque City: The impact on this country will be great and if, as a law, its implementation is sustained, which I doubt, the following may be the results: 1. It will be another source of corruption, with offers from multinational makers of contraceptive drugs and devices; 2. Our country and the poor will remain poor, as this is not the solution for poverty, contrary to what its proponents would have us believe; 3. Cases against those who will defy the law based on their conscience and moral beliefs will clog the courts, with a chaotic aftermath; 3. As in other countries, sex education will make many of our children promiscuous, as in the US, as contraceptives and condoms will be made available to them; and 4. This law will make ours a Christian country of condoned abortion!

• Money for lobbyists, condom makers

• Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: If the RH Bill becomes a law, then a sudden impact will be felt in the fat bank accounts of those who lobbied for it. The pharmaceutical companies who will supply the merchandise and the pro-RH politicos who fought for its approval will be laughing all the way to the bank. Mga impakto talaga.

• Nestor Buñag, Mandaluyong City: Now I see, though late, that the RH Bill needs enactment for nationwide funding. Hmm, I smell a rat. Lobbying must have been heavy.

• Leonard Kristian Gelacio, Cauayan City: Even if the RH Bill becomes a law, it will not help our economy to progress. Why? Because the root cause of poverty is not overpopulation, but the proliferation of corruption in the government. The said bill seems to encourage people to indulge in extra-marital and pre-marital sex. However, the clincher is, we are made by God to propagate. It should be noted that manufacturers and/or sellers of contraceptives are the only ones who will gain from this.

• The poor will benefit most

• Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Not much. Enlightened people are already practicing family planning anyway. It’s the poor people, whose hobby is making babies, who will benefit the most.

• June Deoferio, Cavite: It will benefit poor people with big families the most. However, it’s another additional burden for our national government.

• It should remain a bill

• Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: The RH Bill should remain a bill. If the former Pres. Cory were alive today, I am sure she would scold Pres. Noynoy for picking a fight with the CBCP.

• Lorenzo Fernandez Jr., Cabanatuan City: Although it may become a law because of its many supporters, who are weak of mind and spirit, I will not change my position. I am pro-life.

• Call for a plebiscite

• Lorena Malones Martinez, Iloilo City: Everybody should take part on whether to make the RH Bill a law or not. If this happens, it’s one great leap for Juan Dela Cruz.

• It will add up to nothing

• Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: I don’t see any special impact of the RH Bill, should it become a law. In the past three decades, so many, many bills were signed into law, yet we remain a poor and pitiful nation. I wonder if some of the honorable members of our Congress have asked themselves why this is so. We have spent billions for their pork barrel and trips abroad, yet where are we now? One thing is certain, though. Most, if not all of them, have become multi-millionaires.

• C.B. Manalastas, Manila: If passed into law, the RH Bill will just become part of any existing laws that won’t be properly implemented. Sa umpisa lang ‘yan at habang tumatagal, makakalimutan din.

• Carmela Ramento, Cagayan de Oro City: The way most Filipinos think, I doubt if the RH Bill becoming into law will have any appreciable impact. It’d be too much wishful thinking.

• Worth giving a shot

• Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: Hopefully, the runaway population will slow down to manageable levels. When this is unattainable, the law becomes a white elephant. But it’s worth the try.

• Cris Rivera, Rizal: It all depends on the fundamentals of the ratified RH Bill. These will determine how opposing parties will view it. I think it would be lamentable to trash this remarkable bill.

• The RH Bill is not a solution

• Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: It should lead to families becoming more responsive, responsible, disciplined and manageable. However, the RH Bill alone cannot perfectly do these things. It must be complemented with poverty alleviation programs and continuing family education.

• Ed Gulmatico, Abu Dhabi: Nothing. All the pro- and anti- RH Bill arguments will amount to nothing, with the oppositors and proponents, whatever their standing in society, only wasting their precious time. The intended beneficiaries/sacrificial lambs of this RH Bill -illiterate families in rural areas; homeless families residing in the streets; mothers of malnourished children with six kids or more; squatter settlers in riverbanks, canals, esteros, filthy squalor, etc. don’t even know nor care to understand what this fuss is all about. If our honorable lawmakers/elected officials give the children of these illiterate fathers and mothers free and compulsory education up to their maturity that will enable them to distinguish what is morally right and morally wrong, in the end, they have a better chance at becoming responsible parents and citizens of this country.

• Rose Leobrera, Manila: Wala, we would not even feel it. With a runaway population like we have, it’s not today’s generation that would benefit, but our children’s children, if may susunod nga sa batas na yan given that we can never intrude or dictate on what couples want to do in the privacy of their rooms. It is because of so many unschooled couples and poverty that our country is suffering. This RH Bill, if passed into law, will not solve overpopulation. The best it can do is to curb corruption and uplift the lives of the people. The RH Bill just has a new name, dati may POPCOM na, but it didn’t work out. Otherwise, we would not be overly populated like we are now.

• It’ll take years

• Robert Young Jr., San Juan: The benefits of the RH Bill, should it become a law, won’t be immediate. It will take years, even decades, to realize it. The government must first address the ever-increasing unemployment problem, which stands at 27.2 percent, and the pervasive corruption in government and the military. It should institute anti-trust laws to stop a handful of corporations controlling all the businesses in the countries, and prosecute big-time tax cheaters, who manage to get away from paying billions in unpaid taxes and duties.

• Major poll issue

• Louella Brown, Baguio City: Should it become a law, the RH Bill will be a political and religious issue in the 2013 and 2016 elections.

• Dwindling resources

• Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: The antis are concerned more about moral and religious issues. The pros are concerned about the present and quantifiable problems. What used to be a farmland are now rows of gardens, because the heirs have adjudicated among themselves the property of their late parents and they are growing. Soon, the gardens would be subdivided into 1 x 2.40 m. lots, the size of a plot in the cemetery, maybe not even enough for succeeding generations.

• William Gonzaga, Marikina City: In the event that the pros and antis will have finally threshed out satisfactorily the objectionable features of the bill, the RH law will help enormously to control the population explosion. Without the RH law, the ballooning population impose

1. It violates our Constitutional rights;

1.1. If we read Section 28 (e) of this bill, that says, “Any person who maliciously engages in disinformation about the intent or provisions of this Act” as included as a prohibited act, it shows clear violation of our FREEDOM OF SPEECH (Bill of Rights, Article III, Section 4 of 1987 Constitution). Isn’t harsh to have any one who will express objections to this bill be subjected to penalties? Silencing its critics is a violation of our Constitution. We are in a democratic country with already the existence of laws against libel and defamation, so why need for the provision of this kind of bill?

1.2. Section 21 that states below, forces employers to provide the reproductive health care services to their employees. This is again a violation of the Constitution since employers have not given any choice whether the distribution of these contraceptives may be against their conscience or religion.

SEC. 21. Employers’ Responsibilities. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall ensure that employers respect the reproductive rights of workers. Consistent with the intent of Article 134 of the Labor Code, employers with more than 200 employees shall provide reproductive health services to ALL employees in their own respective health facilities. Those with less than 200 workers shall enter into partnerships with hospitals, health facilities, and/or health professionals in their areas for the delivery of reproductive health services.

Employers shall furnish in writing the following information to all employees and applicants:

(a) The medical and health benefits which workers are entitled to, including maternity and paternity leave benefits and the availability of family planning services;

(b) The reproductive health hazards associated with work, including hazards that may affect their reproductive functions especially pregnant women; and

(c) The availability of health facilities for workers.

Employers are obliged to monitor pregnant working employees among their workforce and ensure that they are provided paid half-day prenatal medical leaves for each month of the pregnancy period that the pregnant employee is employed in their company or organization. These paid pre-natal medical leaves shall be reimbursable from the Social Security System (SSS) or the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), as the case may be.

1.3. Section 28 that states below, eliminates any choice for conscientious objectors and makes no room for their legitimate concerns. This means, doctors and health workers are forced to dispense contraceptives and other contraceptive devices and methods; if they refuse, they must refer another person who will dispense such things. If people will not cooperate as what is stated in the given provisions, they will be imprisoned for one to six months and will pay for a fine amounting to P10,000.00 to P50,000.00!

SEC. 28. Prohibited Acts. The following acts are prohibited:

(a) Any healthcare service provider, whether public or private, who shall:

(1) Knowingly withhold information or restrict the dissemination thereof, and/or intentionally provide incorrect information regarding programs and services on reproductive health, including the right to informed choice and access to a full range of legal, medically-safe and effective family planning methods;

(2) Refuse to perform legal and medically-safe reproductive health procedures on any person of legal age on the ground of lack of third party consent or authorization. In case of married persons, the mutual consent of the spouses shall be preferred. However in case of disagreement, the decision of the one undergoing the procedure shall prevail. In the case of abused minors where parents and/or other family members are the respondent, accused or convicted perpetrators as certified by the proper prosecutorial office or court, no prior parental consent shall be necessary; and

(3) Refuse to extend health care services and information on account of the person’s marital status, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, personal circumstances, or nature of work; Provided, That, the conscientious objection of a healthcare service provider based on his/her ethical or religious beliefs shall be respected; however, the conscientious objector shall immediately refer the person seeking such care and services to another healthcare service provider within the same facility or one which is conveniently accessible who is willing to provide the requisite information and services; Provided, further, That the person is not in an emergency condition or serious case as defined in RA 8344 penalizing the refusal of hospitals and medical clinics to administer appropriate initial medical treatment and support in emergency and serious cases.

(b) Any public official who, personally or through a subordinate, prohibits or restricts the delivery of legal and medically-safe reproductive health care services, including family planning; or forces, coerces or induces any person to use such services.

(c) Any employer or his representative who shall require an employee or applicant, as a condition for employment or continued employment, to undergo sterilization or use or not use any family planning method; neither shall pregnancy be a ground for non-hiring or termination of employment.

(d) Any person who shall falsify a certificate of compliance as required in Section 15 of this Act; and

(e) Any person who maliciously engages in disinformation about the intent or provisions of this Act.

SEC. 29. Penalties. Any violation of this Act or commission of the foregoing prohibited acts shall be penalized by imprisonment ranging from one (1) month to six (6) months or a fine of Ten Thousand (P 10,000.00) to Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 50,000.00) or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the competent court; Provided That, if the offender is a public official or employee, he or she shall suffer the accessory penalty of dismissal from the government service and forfeiture of retirement benefits. If the offender is a juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the president or any responsible officer. An offender who is an alien shall, after service of sentence, be deported immediately without further proceedings by the Bureau of Immigration.

If the employer will not provide condoms to their employees because they politically (and religiously) believe that this act is a responsibility of the government; or the doctors and health providers themselves, will we punish them of imprisonment and fine? If so, both of the above sections are in clear violation of Article III, Section 18 (1) of our Constitution that says, “No person shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and aspirations.”

1.4. The distribution of contraceptives violates Article II, Section 12 of the Constitution that says,

“Section 12. The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of the Government.”

Our fundamental law recognizes that human life must be protected from the moment of conception, therefore, contraceptives that causes early chemical abortion is clearly unconstitutional.

2. The Law of Void for Vagueness Doctrine applies;

If we search for this doctrine, we will find that it is about a law principle that says a given statute is void and unenforceable if it is too vague for the average citizen to understand (e.g. cannot generally determine what are regulated, what conduct is prohibited, or what punishment may be imposed.)

Going back to the sections of this law particularly Section 20 that states below,

SEC. 20. Ideal Family Size. The State shall assist couples, parents and individuals to achieve their desired family size within the context of responsible parenthood for sustainable development and encourage them to have two children as the ideal family size. Attaining the ideal family size is neither mandatory nor compulsory. No punitive action shall be imposed on parents having more than two children.

It poses many questions that will linger on the minds of an average citizen making the bill, itself, vague. How will the State assist couples, parents and individuals to achieve their desired family size within the context of responsible parenthood for sustainable development?

There are many ambiguous terms present in this section like desired family size, responsible parenthood and sustainable development- these are all subjective terms. What if my desired family size is 12? Was it sustainable? Am I a responsible parent for having 12 children? And how did this bill come out with two children as an ideal family size? Why 2 not 1 or 3 or 4? What if the parents want more children?

And Section 21 that states below,

SEC. 21. Employers’ Responsibilities. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall ensure that employers respect the reproductive rights of workers. Consistent with the intent of Article 134 of the Labor Code, employers with more than 200 employees shall provide reproductive health services to all employees in their own respective health facilities. Those with less than 200 workers shall enter into partnerships with hospitals, health facilities, and/or health professionals in their areas for the delivery of reproductive health services.

Employers shall furnish in writing the following information to all employees and applicants:

(a) The medical and health benefits which workers are entitled to, including maternity and paternity leave benefits and the availability of family planning services;

(b) The reproductive health hazards associated with work, including hazards that may affect their reproductive functions especially pregnant women; and

(c) The availability of health facilities for workers.

Employers are obliged to monitor pregnant working employees among their workforce and ensure that they are provided paid half-day prenatal medical leaves for each month of the pregnancy period that the pregnant employee is employed in their company or organization. These paid pre-natal medical leaves shall be reimbursable from the Social Security System (SSS) or the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), as the case may be.

Section 21 obliges employers to provide for the medical and health benefits of the workers. What if the employer cannot provide for the expenses of the employees, will they be penalised? In this bill, yes, they will. How about the carinderia owners and other unorganised establishments? Yes, they will also. Because employers with less than 200 employees shall provide for the same health services to their workforce.

Application of the Doctrine: This doctrine protects the individuals’ right to due process and whenever violators were apprehended, they will not be punished because the law is vague in the first place. Hence, making it useless at all. Implementing RH Bill in the future will be a chaos.

3. RH bill is amoral

There is a difference between the terms amoral and immoral. “Amoral” means the inability to know the difference between right and wrong while immoral goes against the tenets of the society. Below are some reasons why this is amoral.

3.1. It makes the purpose of sex vague.

Why people have sex? Pleasure? Medium to express love? To make children? People have different opinions regarding this question. And I respect that. For me, RH bill is amoral because it makes people confuse which act is good or bad. I just remember my conversation with our janitor- Ka Oca during one of our lunch breaks. I asked him,

“Sir, Oca. If I were to give you condom, will you use it?”

Sir Oca’s answer was,

“It depends. If I will have to make sex with other women, of course I will use condom. But if I have to make love with my wife, I will not.”

I asked him again why he will not use it to his wife. And his answer was,

“Because I am confident that my wife is clean.”

You see. My point is, giving out free condoms creates amorality. Because people learns to like what they think is good for them and to dislike what is they think bad for them. Is this the choice we want? How can we be free to do something that is wrong from the beginning?

I just do not understand it: people promotes condom so that they may not get STDs. But how come Sir Oca thought that he will be using condom to other women but not to his wife? Was using condom makes men 100% safe from STDs or women from getting pregnant? I think, this bill further promotes adultery, concubinage, dishonesty and disloyalty. By giving out condom, we are opening ideas for our men to use it- not to their wives but for other women.

And another point, I asked Sir Oca,

“Aside from you are sure your wife is clean, why you would not use condom during your make love?”

And his answer was simple.

“Hassle. Condom is rubber. It lessens pleasure.”

You see. We are so altruistic about giving out free condoms. We are so concerned about over population. About people getting STDs. But, are we really sure if these condoms will be used every time they make sex? Because we are so generous, how many times will we provide our men these free condoms? Once a week? Twice a week? Three times a day?

I remember this joke during one of our class lectures.

Community organizers (CO) gave free condoms to this rural area. The organizers were so concern about deforestation and over population; because people were poor and have no other source of income ,they tend to cut trees just to sustain their living. So, to save the trees, flora and fauna of the place, they have given out free seminars about family planning.

After some time, COs got the result, their study showed that women were still getting pregnant! Worried and somehow frustrated, one of the COs asked one of the men:

“Did you not learn anything from us?”

The man said, “About what? About using condom? I thought this condom should be placed on my finger while having sex with my wife!”

You see. It’s just the same as in teaching sex education to our children especially during their crucial years of growing up. Instead of letting teachers discuss about the birds and the bees openly with their other classmates, why not parents do so? Isn’t children will learn better with 1:1 ratio than 1:50 (teacher:students)?

Also, RH bill promotes amorality because it confuses children from right and wrong. Are we going to teach them that it is OK to have sex but be sure to wear condom? If I will be a parent some day, of course, I will not allow my children to learn about sex at their very young age! Why grade 5? Why not high school?

Also, by doing so, it destroys the essence or purpose of sex. Before, I remember my mom told me that it is improper for men to touch any part of my body not until he becomes my husband. But now, we are going to teach them that these things are normal, proper and usual thing to do as long as we care or love the other person? Or just feel the want to do it just to satisfy one’s desire? Sigh.

3.2. It pushes reproductive health to become “right” but to whose rights’ expense? The big question here is- who is going to pay the price? We protect the rights of the poor but we are compromising the rights of the health and medical sectors as well as the employers.

I have few more questions:

Is it right to protect the rights of the poor?

But, is it right to increase our taxes so that we may provide these poor their reproductive health rights?

Is it right to compel our employers to pay for our FREE healthcare services?

But, is it also right to imprison them and fine them for not able to comply with the law because their fund is insufficient?

Is it right to protect women’s reproductive health rights by giving them more choices of family planning methods?

But, is it also right if most of the companies will hire fewer women in their industry because they cannot comply with the law?

3.3. It confuses people whether contraceptives are abortifacients or not. Whether using them prevents or encourages abortion. Whether these are medicines or causing diseases. In short, it confuses people whether the act of using contraceptives is right or wrong.

This time I am asking you a favor- to use the internet’s search engine and find yourself the effects of using contraceptives.

I have done my research and found out that others who are using IUDs have become prone to yeast infection, lost sex drive, experience lower back pain, had heavier menstrual flow, acne break out, migraine, cramps, depression, mood swings, etc.

The Church is against RH bill not ONLY because it is concerned in protecting women’s rights but also in preventing the future negative effects of these contraceptives on them if these were not strictly controlled and monitored. The Church believes that contraceptives may cause, inflict or encourage abortion. It is normal for them to react on this issue because it is their duty to check and balance or to weigh things on matters that will affect the lives of the people especially affecting their moral values. On my opinion, I am glad that the Church is challenging this bill, because through this we are able to see different sides of the story; and eventually, we will learn, improve and produce better laws in the future.

I would like to quote former Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz who warned about passing this Reproductive Health Bill into law. He said in an interview,

“What is the Church doing? The Church is trying to maintain the values system of the Filipino people. With the values system gone, look at what is happening to us? Let us be responsible and not to do shortcut because it does not bring good results.”

4. It claims as a panacea to issues like over population and poverty. Well, in fact, it gives promises and false hopes. RH bill will not solve these problems. And over population is not the SOLE cause of poverty but only ONE of its FEW causes that needs to be addressed ALSO;

Who am I to say that this bill is not the panacea to over population and poverty? I am just an ordinary citizen of this country, without any legislative or executive power to implement what is best for my people. But I spare you few more minutes of your time to further read my arguments based on LOGIC, EXPERIENCE and WISDOM I acquired from reading, hearing people’s opinions and basically knowledge I learned from the university- including law school.

I do volunteer works and I am actively serving the urban poor communities (where I also belong) by giving my time for them. For the past few years of organising people, I learned that poverty has many causes : 1. Macroeconomic issues 2. Unemployment issues 3. Unchecked population growth 4. Problems in the agriculture and forestry sector 5. Governance concerns 6. Armed conflict and 7. Disability.

To further discuss these seven direct causes of poverty kindly read on:

4.1. Macroeconomic issues

I am not an economist but I have subject about this and I learned that economic growth is important in determining or alleviating poverty; that poverty decreases when the growth rate of average family income is higher than the inflation rate. Our economy has not been high enough because of some mismanagement and other external shocks we experience (like El Nino, frequent typhoon visits, lack of investor confidence, etc). Also, it is because we are faced with fiscal deficit, public sector debt, poor investment climate since the Asian financial crisis, and gradual loss of international competitiveness.

4.2. Unemployment issues

I talk with people who were farmers and laborers and for them who have children, they see labor as an important asset of the poor. Like my uncle, who works in the rice field, his children were his assistants in managing their source of income.

By experience and dealing with people from different walks of life, I learned that unemployment and underemployment determines poverty. For this country to alleviate poverty, jobs must be accessible! And must provide adequate income for every worker! We cannot say that people who have more children are poorer because for them, their children are the ones who will give them source of income. The question here should be: what kind of job we will be employed and how much we will earn?

A study conducted by ADB in the Philippines have shown that the basic problem of the poor is not so much lack of employment as the low incomes derived from employment. This has to do with both low wage rates and the phenomenon of underemployment (Source: Chapter 6: Causes of Poverty in thePhilippines, page 93).

4.3. Unchecked population growth

You see, I recognise that population is also one of the causes of poverty. But I would like to quote ADB’s study about this issue:

“The population (of the Philippines) is projected to reach 111 million by 2015. Population growth in and of itself is NOT a PROBLEM IF resources are available to COPE with the additional people requiring public services, employment, housing, and so on. But in a country where the budget is already stretched and where poverty is HIGH to BEGIN with, population growth BECOMES a MAJOR issue.” (Check this link:

We know that thePhilippinesis an agricultural sector but again the irony is: the farmers who produce our food were the poorest. In this country, the agriculture and forestry sector are overlooked. The promises of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and the land reform agendas that have been adopted by successive administrations, not much has been achieved. The land ownership was still concentrated on the hands of the few elites. There is rampant forest degradation, denudation and ecological imbalance. If the land that is the source of food and our resources are mismanaged, how do we expect this country to become rich?

4.5. Governance concerns

In 1986, we ousted a dictator because we want democracy- freedom to choose what is best for our people. Over the years, there are still senses of disappointments over our leaders in their ability to address the needs of the society especially the poor. Corruption increases poverty because of reduced economic growth; biased tax systems and the use of wealth by people with self interests that lobby government for policies that will encourage greater income and will acquire assets in favour of the rich and well connected. Also, our government has inability to collect sufficient revenues. And lastly, we have weak judiciary that contributes to the weaknesses and inefficiency of our State.

4.6. Armed conflict

We know that conflicts result to deaths, disablement and displacement. There is more likely greater loss of breadwinners; disruption of basic services; destruction of transport system and general collapse of the affected community. Conflict has negative impacts to all forms of capital- financial, social, natural and physical.Mindanaofor example faces major poverty challenge. Armed conflict causes poverty, and vice-versa, poverty also produces conflict.

4.7. Disability

Just like the causal relationship of conflict and poverty, disability and poverty is also bi-directional. Poverty causes disability and disability causes poverty (not all disability is caused by poverty but poor people are most likely to have poor health, poor living conditions, and dangerous working conditions.)

5. No one is restricting our choice for the use of modern natural and artificial methods of family planning. But with the passage of RH Bill, government will have the power to REGULATE the business, medical and education sectors;

If the government through the Philhealth will pay for the reproductive health services of the people especially the poor, and the employers will pay for their workers, then we are giving the government the right to regulate or to control the prices of the RH services.

This bill if ever enacted will pose negative impacts in our individual rights and freedom because the government will have more power to regulate the business, medical and education sectors.

This proposal is worst than Martial Law where it seeks to penalise employers, doctors, health care providers, educators or teachers, government officials and even ordinary person who will fail to comply with the bill and will maliciously engage in disinformation about the intent or provisions of this Act.

6. It is a stupid way of spending tax payers’ money;

Our government will be compelled to levy additional taxes or borrow more money from foreign sources so that it may deliver its promises. It is a stupid way of spending our money to distribute something that we were not sure if these condoms and contraceptives will be used by the poor or the recipient community; or whether these free products will be truly delivered.

Our taxes can go extra miles- we cannot just waste it on something that is unimportant. Giving out condoms and contraceptives as many times I argue is not a solution to the problem of over population and poverty. Again, there are other causes that must take into consideration such as macroeconomic, unemployment, governance, conflict issues, etc.

7. It is prone to corruption;

I have little faith in the ability of our corrupt government officials to IMPLEMENT this bill. I remember Dr. Juan M. Pulhin, my professor from UPLB, during the discussion of poverty in our major class. He said that,

“It is so sad that in this country we have good laws but the problem lies in the implementation.”

I am so worried that despite the promises and claims of the RH Bill to curb national overpopulation, these government officials were incompetent and inefficient in implementing its rules and regulations. I believe that some corrupt officials cannot be trusted- that they will not really deliver the reproductive health services. Instead, they will enjoy huge amount of money for their own good; that the budget, which is allocated for the poor and women will be spent for their own pleasure.

The Department of Health has set aside four hundred million of pesos just to purchase these natural and artificial means of family planning including two million condoms to be distributed next year. Great sums of money, huh?!

There is lobby money behind this. Companies who will win as a bidder to provide for the condoms and contraceptives, without taking into consideration if recipients would eventually use these, will also hit a jackpot!

8. Through RH Bill, instead of teaching every Filipino family about “responsible parenthood”, we are teaching our people, especially the poor, to be dependent to the government (including business and health sectors) who will supply their condoms, contraceptives and other RH services;

What is responsible parenthood? I think, a separate article should be written to further discuss this. But as a gist and in relation to this bill, I believe that it will teach the other way around.

Instead of making couples as responsible in rearing their family, this bill will teach them, particularly the poor, to be dependent to the government (including business and health sectors) in providing their RH services.

Responsible Parenthood should educate couples how to become prepared in facing challenges of being future parents NOT to spoon-feed them or provide FREE RH services in expense of the tax payers’ money. Poor parents to become responsible must have good jobs to start with- with decent income to sustain the needs of their family members NOT to provide them CONDOMS and CONTRACEPTIVES, which are temporary solutions to the over population problem.

9. The LAW must PROTECT the freedom and NOT REGULATE it; and

It is not the role of the government to redistribute wealth so to help the poor. Social justice can never be achieved if there are some people’s rights that are to be ignored and violated. Remember, the law must protect our freedom but not regulate it. In this case, the rights of the employers, educators, doctors and health workers will be compensated if it will be mandatory for them to provide free RH services and products to the poor. Again, if the carinderia owner cannot provide for the ligation of his employee because of insufficient fund, will he be penalised? If this bill is enacted, yes, he will be liable. If this is the case, this Act will violate the freedom of the employers since the government will regulate the reproductive health rights of the employees instead of protecting it ONLY.

10. RH Bill will cause much higher prices of commodities and health care products in the Philippines because businesses and hospitals will be compelled to offset the reproductive health care expenses that they are going to pay for their workers.

I am against RH bill because this will cause higher prices in the commodities and services by forcing the medical sector and all the employers to provide for free reproductive health care services, supplies and devices to all workers, more particularly women workers (See Section 17 of this bill). If the government will deliver free services to the poor, then to whom they will get the money from? it is from our taxes, of course.

We want to lessen population by giving free condoms and contraceptives (and other reproductive health services) to the poor but to the expense of increasing our taxes and having higher prices of commodities as a result? I think this bill is stupid.

SUMMARY:

RH BILL IS EVIL AND STUPID HENCE SHOULD BE KILLED

Yes, we can help the poor all we want. But we cannot be charitable by getting money from other people through taxes and by having the business, health and education sectors under state control in the name of helping the marginalised sector of the society.

If the government is really sincere in helping curbing out poverty, it must work its ways on how to INCREASE THE AVERAGE FAMILY INCOME OF EVERY FILIPINOS, instead, and NOT in WASTING our TAXES to buy CONDOMS and CONTRACEPTIVES! Why the government can’t focus in PROVIDING JOBS for its PEOPLE? INCREASE INVESTORS’ TRUST? AND INCREASE ITS COMPETITIVENESS IN THE WORLD MARKET?

I am a licensed forester and I learned from my professors during my college years about their frustrations on how the government has overlooked the agriculture and forestry sectors in terms of curbing poverty in this country using our available rich and diverse resources.

UNLESS lawmakers will GUARANTEE NO CORRUPTION and it WILL ALLEVIATE POVERTY in a drastic way, will I believe that they were sincere in their intentions to help the poor. For now, forgive me, but I believe this bill is EVIL and STUPID.

I believe that there is a large amount of lobbying money behind this. That this will encourage immorality, abortion, corruption, will legalise stealing money from the tax payers and will violate our constitutional rights- the main reasons why this bill is EVIL!

It is STUPID because 1. It is just a waste of our money (to distribute condoms and contraceptives without assurance that recipients will use these) and 2. It makes us believe that by giving out these for free and also by teaching our Grade 5 students about sex education will solve our country’s problem of over population and poverty.

RH Bill is evil and stupid, the main reason why this should be killed! We have existing good laws that only proper implementation is needed. If we are really concerned about the welfare of the poor (and women), why we don’t provide them DECENT JOBS with GOOD SALARIES? Why not go after big fishes and collect their taxes so that we may have higher revenues? Why not protect our FORESTS (oceans, and others with ecological importance)? Why not manage our lands well, and distribute them properly (not only in the ownership of the few elites) so that we may increase our resources? Why not implement MORAL RECOVERY PROGRAM, instead?

Let us stop war in Mindanao! Let us provide the poor with greater access to basic services! Let us educate our people but not by teaching sex education to our young children!

The poor does not NEED RH BILL! We don’t need this to be well informed! We can maintain the status quo without this!

If RH Bill is killed, we will still have access to every promises lawmakers used in this bill to DECEIVE the people. What do I mean? We can still enjoy the freedom of choice we want: there will still be promotion and protection of gender equality; protection of the elements of the reproductive health care and ensure massive and sustained information drive on responsible parenthood.

How do I say this? Because, today, for example, are malls prevented to build breastfeeding areas in their establishments? If we want to buy condoms and pills over the counters, is there any one or any thing preventing us from doing this? If adolescents would want to know about safe sex, do they have access?

My point is: Without RH Bill, we still have the choice! But with the passage of this bill, it will REGULATE OUR FREEDOM (far from protecting it!) The law will force every employer including doctors and health workers to give condoms and contraceptives! The law will penalise those who will not comply! They will punish every individual who will engage in disinformation about this bill! Sex education will be included in the academic curriculum of our students at very young age! Our taxes and prices of commodities will increase because they will give free condoms and contraceptives to people without consideration if recipients will use these! RH Bill violates our FREEDOM OF SPEECH and RELIGION. It is UNCONSTITUTIONAL! All of these are reasons why this bill is stupid and evil.

And one more thing, I believe RH Bill is evil because it attacks the weaknesses of the Church instead of focusing in giving answers to the questions that will encourage improvements in our future laws. Satan enjoys seeing his opponent being dragged down; he is like a roaring lion that prowls around looking for someone to chew up and swallow. Satan uses encouraging words but deep down is a hidden intention- evil intention.

SATAN IS THE FATHER OF ALL LIES

Last night, I am discussing this RH bill with my cousin and my boyfriend. But before I go to sleep, I really was alarmed how people were deceived by its promises. I never felt so compelled about writing something such as this article. I felt that there is this need to oppose the bill- in my own way (which is writing). So, I prayed that God may give me the wisdom and the courage to write about this issue.

Every time I am confused, depressed, and enthusiastic about something or before I make any important decisions in my life, I do pray and ask for His message. I believe that His message was written in the Bible- that any answer to my prayer is found in its pages.

After I prayed, I flipped over the pages of the Bible and this particular verse in John struck me:

“But you are exactly what your father does.”

“Don’t accuse us of having someone else as our father!” they said. “We just have one father, and he is God.”

“Jesus answered: If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and only from him. He sent me. I did not come on my own. Why can’t you understand what I am talking about? Can’t you stand to hear what I am saying? Your father is the devil, and you do exactly what he wants. He has always been a murderer and a liar. There is nothing truthful about him. He speaks on his own, and everything he says is a lie. Not only is he a liar himself, but he is also the father of all lies. Every thing I have told you is true, and you still refuse to have faith in me. Can any of you accuse me of sin? If you cannot, why won’t you have faith in me? After all, I am telling you the truth. Anyone who belongs to God will listen to his message. But you refuse to listen, because you don’t belong to God.”- John 8: 41-47

I would like to quote one of the intelligent bloggers (aka jlocute) I read online. This is in relation to the topic that Satan is a great deceiver and many have led astray because of his use of deceiving and encouraging words.

“We are really at the end of time era. These are all Satan’s works. We should be aware how he works. As he said, ‘I pretend to love men in order to destroy them; serve them in order to ruin them; deceive them and help them in order to pervert them and draw them into these my hellish regions.’”

To continue, jlocute emphasized that,

“People have been persuaded by the devil that they are entitled to have sex when they choose, rejecting any unwanted life that may result. The enemy may tell (us): ‘that God is too demanding and unreasonable. If we distributed more condoms, we would not have disease or the need to abort babies. And that it is God’s fault (if our population booms or poverty prevails) because God’s Church is against the use of condoms’.”

For jlocute,

“Sexual intercourse, by its nature and intent is potentially (a) life giving act. This is God’s version. (But) the enemy’s version is that sex can be closed to give life and used for physical pleasure only. Enemy’s version of sex is selfish, emotionally dangerous and bad for humanity. The enemy offers an answer to this too, and led souls to avoid consequences by offering widespread contraception and abortion. Both men and women are now told that sinful sexual behaviours are allowable and acceptable. God intends that a man and woman enter a blessed union (through marriage) and then share their sexuality with one another. (Using this bill) the devil is mocking God because he depicts God’s purpose. He is laughing because many led astray on this sin.”

Last night I also prayed that He may give me enough time so that I may write article opposing RH Bill just like this; and just this morning, my immediate boss sent me a message that he will be on leave today. God has answered my prayer. He has not just given me few hours to write about this article; He gave me whole day of business work to finish this! Is any one can explain to me how the bible verse and time to write this article incidence were so appropriate? I believe there is really a reason why these coincidences happened.

I have read and heard about the arguments of the Pro RH Bill. Again, forgive me, because I already had decided- I am against it because I believe this violates the law of men and is against the will of God. So to speak.

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

Most of my arguments came from this site. So, please consider visiting this link: http://fvdb.wordpress.com/ The author has very good insights.

I suggest you also check my references below. Thank you so much for taking time reading this article.

“But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

2 Corinthians 11:14 (NLT)

“You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.”

- Naguib Mahfouz

“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.”

-Mother Teresa

“The biggest obstacle was mixing abortion with overpopulation. These are two things that have nothing to do with each other. ”